Modifying restricted images

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that determine a restricted image within a media asset, modify the restricted image to obtain a modified image that includes at least one shared image attribute of the restricted image, and produce a modified media asset that includes the modified image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest availableeffective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available prioritydates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefitsunder 35 USC § 119(e) for provisional patent applications), andincorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of thefollowing listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to theextent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the presentapplication also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s)from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subjectmatter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subjectmatter is not inconsistent herewith. The United States Patent Office(USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO's computerprograms require that patent applicants reference both a serial numberand indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation inpart. Kunin, Benefit of Prior-Filed Application, USPTO ElectronicOfficial Gazette, Mar. 18, 2003 athttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm. Thepresent applicant entity has provided below a specific reference to theapplication(s)from which priority is being claimed as recited bystatute. Applicant entity understands that the statute is unambiguous inits specific reference language and does not require either a serialnumber or any characterization such as “continuation” or“continuation-in-part.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicant entityunderstands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entryrequirements, and hence applicant entity is designating the presentapplication as a continuation in part of its parent applications, butexpressly points out that such designations are not to be construed inany way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether or notthe present application contains any new matter in addition to thematter of its parent application(s).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

1. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation in part of currently co-pendingUnited States patent application entitled TECHNIQES FOR IMAGEGENERATION, naming Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud andJohn D. Rinaldo, Jr., as inventors, U.S. application Ser. No.11/173,990, filed Jul. 1, 2005.

2. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation in part of currently co-pendingUnited States patent application entitled PROVIDING PROMOTIONAL CONTENT,naming Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D.Rinaldo, Jr., as inventors, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/174,432, filedJul. 1, 2005.

3. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation in part of currently co-pendingUnited States patent application entitled RESTORING MODIFIED ASSETS,naming Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D.Rinaldo, Jr., as inventors, USAN: To be Assigned, filed Aug. 2, 2005.

SUMMARY

An embodiment provides a method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to determining a restricted image within amedia asset, modifying the restricted image to obtain a modified imagethat includes at least one shared image attribute of the restrictedimage, and producing a modified media asset that includes the modifiedimage. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are describedin the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the presentdisclosure.

An embodiment provides a computer program product. In oneimplementation, the computer program product includes but is not limitedto a signal bearing medium bearing at least one of one or moreinstructions for determining a restricted image within a media asset,one or more instructions for modifying the restricted image to obtain amodified image that includes at least one shared image attribute of therestricted image, and one or more instructions for producing a modifiedmedia asset that includes the modified image. In addition to theforegoing, other computer program product aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a system. In one implementation, the systemincludes but is not limited to a computing device and instructions. Theinstructions when executed on the computing device cause the computingdevice to determine a restricted image within a media asset, modify therestricted image to obtain a modified image that includes at least oneshared image attribute of the restricted image, and produce a modifiedmedia asset that includes the modified image. In addition to theforegoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a device. In one implementation, the deviceincludes but is not limited to a processing system, the processingsystem comprising recognition logic that is operable to determine arestricted image within a media asset, and modification logic that isoperable to modify the restricted image to obtain a modified image thatincludes at least one shared image attribute of the restricted image. Inaddition to the foregoing, other device aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides another method. In one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to providing a media asset to a processingsystem for recognition of a restricted image contained therein, andreceiving a modified media asset in which the restricted image has beenmodified to include a modified image. In addition to the foregoing,other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and textforming a part of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides another method, in one implementation, the methodincludes but is not limited to determining an image, and modifying theimage to obtain an anonymized image. In addition to the foregoing, othermethod aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming apart of the present disclosure.

An embodiment provides a computer program product. In oneimplementation, the computer program product includes but is not limitedto a signal bearing medium bearing at least one of one or moreinstructions for determining an image, and one or more instructions formodifying the image to obtain an anonymized image. In addition to theforegoing, other computer program product aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are notlimited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming canbe virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein- referenced method aspects dependingupon the design choices of the system designer.

In addition to the foregoing, various other embodiments are set forthand described in the text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description)and/or drawings of the present description.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processesdescribed herein, as defined by the claims, will become apparent in thedetailed description set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which embodiments may beimplemented, perhaps in a device.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate certain alternative embodiments of the deviceand/or processing system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsthat produce a modified media asset that includes a modified image.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the exampleoperational flow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the exampleoperational flow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the exampleoperational flow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the example operationalflow of FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 illustrates a partial view of an example computer programproduct that includes a computer program for executing a computerprocess on a computing device.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example device in which embodiments may beimplemented.

FIG. 14 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsby which a user receives a modified media asset that includes a modifiedimage.

FIG. 15 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsthat produce an anonymized image.

FIG. 16 illustrates a partial view of an example computer programproduct that includes a computer program for executing a computerprocess on a computing device.

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 in which embodiments may beimplemented, perhaps in the context of a device. In FIG. 1, a mediaasset 102 is illustrated as being received at a processing system 104and thereafter output by the processing system 104 as a modified mediaasset 106. More specifically, the media asset 102 includes a restrictedimage 108, and the processing system 104 is operable to determine thatthe restricted image 108 is, in fact, restricted.

The processing system 104 is further operable to modify the media asset102, and in particular, to modify the restricted image 108, andthereafter output the modified media asset 106 having a modified image110. In this way, for example, an identity or other information aboutthe restricted image 108 may be protected, hidden, or obscured, whilemaintaining a general presentation context of the media asset 102. Forexample, a person who is a subject of the restricted image 108 may bemade anonymous within the modified media asset 106, while inclusion ofthe modified image 110, which shares attributes of the restricted image108 (or, at least, shares one common attribute of the restricted image108), may serve to limit or prevent an observer of the modified mediaasset 106 from noticing that the modified media asset 110, has, in fact,been modified.

The processing system 104 includes recognition logic 112 that isoperable to recognize the restricted nature of the restricted image 108.The processing system 104 also includes modification logic 114 that isoperable to modify the media asset 102 (including the restricted image108) to obtain the modified media asset 106 and the modified image 110.

As described in more detail below, the recognition logic 112 maydetermine the restricted image 108 within the media asset 102 usingimage restriction criteria 116. As also described in more detail below,the modification logic 114 may obtain/create the modified image 110 byaccessing a number of stored or accessible replacement images 118.Specific examples of operations involving these elements of theprocessing system 104 are provided in the context of various operationalflows.

Generally speaking, however, the recognition logic 112 may operate toanalyze various attributes of the media asset 102, including attributesof the restricted image 108, in order to determine a restricted natureof the restricted image 108. One example of attributes of the mediaasset 102 that is illustrated in FIG. 1 includes concurrent image(s)120, i.e., the recognition logic 112 may make a determination that therestricted image 108 is restricted based on a presence or absence of theconcurrent image(s) 120, or based on the presence or absence of certainattributes of the concurrent image(s) 120. Of course, attributes of themedia asset 102 are not necessarily limited to image characteristics ofthe media asset 102, and also may include, for example, metadataassociated with the media asset 102, an identity of a person, place, orthing within or in association with the restricted image 108, orinformation related to a person and/or device involved in capturing themedia asset 102.

Further in FIG. 1, a user 122 accesses the processing system 104 by wayof a user interface 124. In this way, the user 122 may, for example,submit the media asset 102 to the processing system 104, or receive themodified media asset 106 from the processing system 104, or may becomeinvolved in operations of the processing system 104. The user interface124 also may be used, for example, to define or modify the imagerestriction criteria 116, or to select the replacement images 118. Theuser interface 124 also may be used to control a type and/or extent ofthe recognition performed by the recognition logic 112, or to control atype and/or extent of the modifications performed by the modificationlogic 114.

Also in FIG. 1, a device 126 is shown in which the processing system 104may operate. As described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2 andfollowing figures, the device 126 may include in some examples, an imagecapture device, a print device, a general-purpose computing device, orvirtually any other device or combination of devices that may be used tostore, transmit, display, or render a media asset.

The processing system 104 also may be operable to perform otherprocessing of the media asset 102, such as, for example, enhancing,editing, displaying, or otherwise improving the media asset 102, or, inother example embodiments, such additional processing may be performedby other external systems (not shown), if needed.

FIG. 1 also illustrates the possibility that the media asset 102 may beassociated with metadata 128. For example, a video stream may have anassociated closed-captioning stream, or a web page may have metadataassociated with content of the page. Typically, such metadata 128 maynot be viewable to the user 122, or may only be viewable if somespecific action is taken by the user 122. The metadata 128 may beintended by a designer or producer of the media asset 102, or by anintervening user of the media asset 102, to provide additionalinformation or level of enjoyment to the user 122, and may be used bythe processing system to assist in, for example, determining therestricted image 108, as described in more detail, below. The metadata128 may or may not be included within the modified media asset 106.

A symbol or text 130, on the other hand, generally representsinformation that is included within the media asset 102 for normalviewing. For example, a web page may include a news article that names aperson who is pictured in the article. By using the name text, therecognition logic 112 may be able to determine identity or otherinformation regarding the restricted image 108, or the concurrentimage(s) 120.

In FIG. 1, it should be understood that any and/or all of theillustrated elements, and other elements, not illustrated, may be incommunication with one another according to any known methods, includingbut not limited to the various communication techniques discussedherein. As such, it should be understood that the various elements neednot be located or co-located as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1.For example, in some embodiments, the recognition logic and/or the imagerestriction criteria 116 may be remote from the processing system 104.Similarly, the user interface 124 may be implemented at a localcomputing device of the user 122, remote from the processing system 104,or may be a part of the device 126 that may house the processing system104, as well.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate certain alternative embodiments of the device 126and/or processing system 104 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2A, the device 126 isillustrated as a printer 126 a, which includes the processing system 104and a display 202. The display 202 may be used to display a preview of amedia asset to be printed with the printer 126 a, such as, for example,the media asset 102 and/or the modified media asset 106, and, of course,the printer 126 a may be used to print the media asset 102 and/or themodified media asset 106 on paper 204, as well.

The display 202 also should be understood to function, in some exampleembodiments, as the user interface 124. For example, the display 202 mayinclude touch-screen control for operating the printer 126 a and/or theprocessing system 104, or various buttons, keys, or otherselection/input devices (not shown) may be used. In additional oralternative embodiments, an external computing device may be connectedto the printer 126 a for control thereof, including control of theprocessing system 104.

In FIG. 2B, the device 126 is illustrated as a camera 126 b, which,similarly to the printer 126 a, includes some or all of the processingsystem 104, as well as a display 206. As with the printer 126 a, thecamera 126 b (and/or the processing system 104) may be controlled by theuser 122, either using the display 206 (and possibly associatedcontrols), or using an external computing device.

In FIG. 2C, the processing system 104 is illustrated as part of aprocessing service 208, which may be remote from the user 122 at acomputing station 210, and in communication therewith by way of anetwork 212. In such example embodiments, the user 122 may use theworkstation 210 to transmit and receive the media asset 102 and/or themodified media asset 106, respectively, in order to obtain the variousadvantages described herein. In one example, discussed in more detailbelow, the processing service 208 may operate as a clearinghouse atwhich media assets of various types and captured by a number of usersmay be processed, so that any restricted images therein may be modifiedappropriately.

In FIG. 3 and in following figures that include various examples ofoperational flows, discussion and explanation may be provided withrespect to the above-described examples of FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C,and/or with respect to other examples and contexts. However, it shouldbe understood that the operational flows may be executed in a number ofother environment and contexts, and/or in modified versions of FIGS. 1,2A, 2B, and 2C. Also, although the various operational flows arepresented in the sequence(s) illustrated, it should be understood thatthe various operations may be performed in other orders than those whichare illustrated, or may be performed concurrently.

FIG. 3 illustrates an operational flow 300 representing exampleoperations that produce the modified media asset 106. After a startoperation, the operational flow 300 moves to a determining operation 310where the restricted image 108 is determined to be included within themedia asset 102. For example, the recognition logic 112 of theprocessing system 104 may determine that the restricted image 108 is ofa person, place, or thing that is not to be included within produced(modified) versions of the media asset 102.

At a modifying operation 320, the restricted image 108 is modified toobtain a modified image that includes at least one shared imageattribute of the restricted image. For example, as in FIG. 1, themodification logic 114 may operate to replace an image of a person or apart of a person with a new or separate image of another person. In thiscase, the shared image attribute could include one or more of a body(part) shape, a shared facial feature or skin tone, a shared gender orrace, a shared hair color or body physique, or numerous other examples.Of course, the restricted image need not be of a person, but also mayinclude virtually any object that may be imaged, including places,objects, or landmarks, to name just a few. Further, the restricted imageneed not be of a single one of these possibilities, but could includemultiple people, places, or things, or combinations thereof. Otherexamples of restricted images and image attributes are provided below.

At an operation 330, the modified media asset 106 is produced thatincludes the modified image 110. For example, the processing system 104,which may be included in the print device 126 a, the camera 126 b, orthe processing service 208, may output the modified media asset 106 forprinting, viewing, storing, or transmitting, as the case may be, for useor enjoyment by, for example, the user 122. The operational flow 300then moves to an end operation.

In some embodiments, the user 122 may include a person, an entity,and/or a government. Although a user may be shown herein as a singleillustrated figure, and/or be described in the singular, those skilledin the art will appreciate that the term user may be representative ofone or more human user(s), robotic user(s) (e.g., computational entity),and/or substantially any combination thereof (e.g., a user may beassisted by one or more robotic agents). Further, the user, as set forthherein, even if shown as a single entity, may in fact be composed of twoor more entities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, ingeneral, the same may be said of “sender” and/or other entity-orientedterms as such terms may be used herein.

In some embodiments, the media asset 102 may include a visual image, apicture, a website, an audio recording, a video stream, and/or an audiostream. In additional or alternative embodiments, the media asset 102also may include text, such as may be included in an article or otherwriting, or in a website. The media asset 102 may be embodied in variousforms, including but not limited to digital files or transmissions,analog recordings or transmissions, or may be embodied in physical form,such as, for example, on paper, plastic, canvas, wood, or any otherphysical medium in which text, image, or other representations may beembodied.

The media asset 102 may be received, stored and/or transmitted usingtypical elements of a computer environment. The media asset 102 (and themodified media asset 106) may be transmitted over a network such as thenetwork 212 of FIG. 2, which may represent, for example, a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a peer-to-peer (P2P)network, or the media asset 102 may be broadcast over the air.

The media asset 102 (and the modified media asset 106) may be captured,received, displayed and/or transmitted, for example and withoutlimitation, using one or more of the following: an electronic device; anappliance; a computing device, such as a personal computer and a server;a limited resource computing device; a pervasive computing device; apersonal digital assistant (PDA); a cell phone; a Blackberry appliance;a vehicle, such as a car, boat, and/or aircraft; an X-Box; a homegateway; a set-top box; a television, a radio, a camera; a printer; adigital video disc (DVD) recorder or burner; and a TiVo or other digitalvideo recorder (DVR).

FIG. 4 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 310 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 402, operation 404,operation 406, operation 408, and/or operation 410.

At the operation 402, identity information associated with therestricted image 108 is determined. For example, the recognition logic112 may determine identity information of a person within the restrictedimage information, which may include, for example, a name, anoccupation, an association (e.g., as a spouse, relative, friend, oremployer/employee), a race, a gender, a body physique, a height, a haircolor or hair style, a style of dress, or any other distinguishinginformation that identifies the person, and, in some examples, thatuniquely identifies the person.

Examples of techniques for performing the determining of identityinformation are described in more detail below. Also, examples of howsuch identity information may be used by the modification logic 114 toproduce the modified image 110 are described in more detail below,although it may be mentioned here that, by determining identityinformation as described above, it follows that the modified image 110may include or be associated with different identity information. Forexample, a person associated with the restricted image 108 may wish toremain anonymous, or otherwise should not be included in the media asset102, and, in such cases, the modified image 110 may include ananonymized image in which the original identity information is hidden,obscured, replaced, and/or otherwise modified.

As a result, persons such as, for example, movie stars, politicians,professional athletes, or other public figures (or persons withassociations thereto, such as spouses or relatives) may have theirimages and identities restricted. Similar comments apply to persons withgovernment high security or classified status, or other persons havingsafety measures associated with promulgation of their image(s).Additionally, since the modified image 110 maintains at least one, andpossibly many, image attributes of the restricted image 108, and apresentation context of the media asset 102 may be maintained within themodified media asset 110, observers, users, or recipients of themodified media asset 110 may not be aware that such modification has, infact, taken place.

Of course, similar comments apply not just to persons within therestricted image 108, but to virtually any object that may be imaged andassociated with identity information. For example, the restricted image108 may include a physical place, such as a public or private landmark,a building, or a sports arena, and the identity information associatedtherewith may be determined by the recognition logic 112. Similarly, anyparticular object having identity information, such as, for example, acar or type of car, a work of art, an animal, a computer or computingdevice, a piece of jewelry or clothing, or any other object, may haveidentity information associated therewith for determining that theassociated image is restricted.

At the operation 404, at least a portion of the media asset 102 isassociated with a user capture device used to capture the media asset,such as, for example, the camera 126 b of FIG. 2. That is, for example,the recognition logic 112 may determine that the media asset 102 wascaptured by the camera 126 b that is restricted from capturing certainimages. For example, cameras in a high-security facility, or cameras atan event with a public figure(s) (e.g., a movie star, politician, orprofessional athlete) may be restricted from capturing images of certainpeople, places, or things.

At the operation 406, at least a portion of the media asset 102 isassociated with a user known to have captured the media asset. Forexample, the user 122 of FIG. 1 may be a newspaper or televisionreporter, whose employer may have agreed to restrict image-taking ofcertain public figures. In this case, as described in more detail below,the recognition logic 112 may associate the media asset 102 or a portionthereof with the user 122 by recognizing the metadata 128 associatedwith the media asset 102, such as, for example, a marker on the mediaasset 102 that was imposed by a camera of the user 122 when (or after)the media asset was obtained. In other examples, the user 122 may berequired to identify him or herself to the processing system 104 beforeprocessing begins, so that the recognition logic 112 may reactaccordingly.

At the operation 408, at least a portion of the media asset 102 isassociated with a setting content of the image. For example, theconcurrent image(s) 120 of FIG. I may be considered to provide settingcontent within the media asset 102. In this way, for example, and asreferenced above, media assets obtained in a certain location, asreflected within the content of the media asset 102, may be recognizedby the recognition logic 112 as containing one or more restrictedimages. As with virtually all of the operational flows described herein,such an association may be combined for enactment within the recognitionlogic 112. For example, the recognition logic 112 may determine that ifa content setting of the media asset 102 references a setting wherecertain public figures will be present, and if identity informationassociated with a person's image within the media asset 102 identifiesthat person as being a spouse of a public figure, then the recognitionlogic 112 may cue the modification logic to anonymize the spouse's imageby, for example, replacing the spouse's image with that of a replacementimage from the replacement images memory 118. Such replacements may beundertaken, for example, based on a wish of the, in this case, spouse,to maintain anonymity.

As another example, the recognition logic 112 may analyze the mediaasset 102 to determine that the setting content is such that allnon-recognized persons should be anonymized. For example, the processingsystem 104 may receive crime-scene photos in which images of bystandershave been captured. If the recognition logic 112 recognizes, e.g.,certain police officers in the media asset 102, then all otherbystanders in the background may be anonymized by producing the modifiedmedia asset 106 to include replacement images, as just described, or bymodifying certain features of the bystanders so as to anonymize thebystanders within the modified media asset.

At the operation 410, an attribute of a concurrently-imaged objectwithin the media asset 102 is determined. For example, an attribute ofthe concurrent image(s) 120 may be determined, where the concurrentimage(s) 120 may include virtually any item that may be imaged withinthe media asset 102. As mentioned above, the concurrently-imagedobject(s) 120 also may be used to determine a setting content of themedia asset 102, although the attribute of a concurrently-imaged objectreference in operation 410 may refer to any particular imaged item, orattribute thereof, which may or may not be a part of a setting contentof the media asset 102.

FIG. 5 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 310 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 502, operation 504,operation 506, operation 508, operation 510, operation 512, and/oroperation 514.

At the operation 502, image recognition analysis is performed on aportion of the media asset. For example, the recognition logic 112 mayperform image recognition analysis on the restricted image 108 todetermine that the restricted image 108 includes an image of a person,or portion thereof, or any other object that may be visually imaged. Theimage recognition analysis may include, for example, color analysis,pattern-matching, pattern-recognition, or any other technique forrecognizing a particular image or type of image. In particular, in anexample additional operation 504 that may be performed in addition to,or in association with, operation 502, indecent or obscene material maybe detected. For example, the recognition logic 112 may recognize nudityor other restricted imagery within the restricted image 108. In thiscase, as described in more detail below, later modification of therestricted image 108 may include addition of clothes or othermodification of the restricted image, where again, and as opposed tosimple blurring or blocking of the restricted image, a presentationcontext of the restricted image 108 may be maintained, so that anobserver of the modified media asset 106 may not notice that such amodification has taken place. As is apparent, moreover, such imagerecognition analyses may be performed on any part of the media asset102, including, for example, the concurrent image(s) 120, as part of thedetermining operation 502.

At the operation 506, facial recognition analysis is performed on aportion of the media asset. For example, the recognition logic 112 mayperform a facial recognition analysis on a person within the restrictedimage 108, or on any other portion of the media asset.

At the operation 508, metadata associated with the restricted image isanalyzed. For example, the recognition logic 112 may analyze the mediaasset 102 to determine and consider any associated metadata 128. Forexample, where the media asset includes a web page, the recognitionlogic 112 may analyze portions of the web page, including source codeassociated with the web page, that may provide information about, forexample, any of the factors mentioned herein, or other factors (e.g.,identity information, a capturing user or device, a setting content, aconcurrently-imaged object, or any other information about the mediaasset 102 that may be useful to the recognition logic 112 in determiningthe restricted image 108). In a further example of the operation 508, atthe operation 510, a closed-captioning stream that is associated withthe media asset 102 is analyzed. For example, the media asset 102 mayrepresent a television show or movie that has an associatedclosed-captioning stream, which may be analyzed by the recognition logic112 to assist in making a determination regarding the restricted image108.

At the operation 512, an attribute of the restricted image is evaluatedagainst image-restriction criteria. For example, the recognition logic112 may communicate with the image restriction criteria 116 in order toassist in performing recognition processes. In this case, the attributeof the restricted image 108 may include any image attribute mentionedherein, or other attributes, including a size, shape, color, identity,race, gender, physique, an associated capture device or capturing user,or any other attribute. The image restriction criteria 116 may involve,for example, any of the various criteria described herein, such asidentity information, setting content, image or facial recognitionanalysis, metadata, and so on, as well as criteria not explicitlymentioned here. Moreover, the image restriction criteria 116 andrecognition logic 112 may interoperate to determine the restricted image108 based on any combination of these criteria, as may be determined andconfigured by the user 122 by way of the user interface 124.

At the operation 514, a symbol is determined within a portion of themedia asset 102. For example, the symbol or text 130 may be determinedby way of text-recognition software, and thereby used to determineidentity or other information related to the restricted image 108.

FIG. 6 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 310 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 602, operation 604,operation 606, and/or operation 608.

At the operation 602, a user preference associated with the restrictedimage is determined. For example, the user 122 may express a preferenceas to whether the restricted image 108 should be restricted, and thispreference may be coded into the image restriction criteria 116, e.g.,again, using the interface 124. The user 122 may represent someoneeither capturing, transmitting, or reviewing the media asset 102,examples of which are described in more detail, below.

At the operation 604, a preference of a human subject of the restrictedimage is determined. For example, a public or private figure may expressa desire not to be included in the media asset 102. Therefore, if such aperson is, in fact, included in the media asset 102, then therecognition logic 112 may recognize the person and, perhaps based on thepreference of the person as stored in the image restriction criteria116, may anonymize the image of the person by, for example, replacingthe image with one selected from the replacement images 118, orotherwise by modifying the image.

At the operation 606, a preference of a user who captured the mediaasset may be determined. For example, the user 122 may be a consumer whohas captured several family photographs and wishes to distribute them tofriends and relatives, but wishes to anonymize certain subjects of thephotographs, perhaps dependent on who is to receive a particular one ofthe photographs. In this case and analogous cases, the user 122 mayprovide a preference(s) to the recognition logic 112 defining a leveland/or type of anonymization to be provided, with respect to individualimage subjects, and/or with respect to recipients of the modified mediaasset 106, or with respect to one or more other image-restrictioncriteria, various examples of which are provided herein.

At the operation 608, a preference of a producer of the media asset maybe determined. For example, the user 122 may represent an editor of anewspaper who is reviewing a number of photographs taken by staffphotographers, among which the media asset 102 may be included. In thiscase, although the editor may not have captured the media asset 102, heor she may be responsible for producing the modified media asset 106using the processing system 104. As such, preferences of such a userdefining a level and/or type of anonymization to be provided, withrespect to the one or more criteria described herein, may be implementedby the recognition logic 112 in determining the restricted image 108within the media asset 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 7 illustrates example embodiments where thedetermining operation 310 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 702, operation 704,operation 706, operation 708, and/or operation 710.

At the operation 702, a restricted image is determined within a stillpicture. For example, if the media asset 102 includes a still picturetaken by a still camera, such as, for example, an embodiment of thecamera 126 b of FIG. 2, then the restricted image 108 may be determinedto be any image within the still picture.

At the operation 704, a restricted image is determined within a videostream. For example, if the media asset includes any type of video,including Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) video or other format,video recorded or transmitted for display on any television, computer,or other display, then the restricted image 108 may be determined asessentially any discernable element within the video. As just oneexample, the restricted image 108 may be determined as an image withinone or more frames of the video image(s).

At the operation 706, the media asset is received at an image capturedevice. For example, the media asset 102 may be received at the imagecapture device 126 b of FIG. 2B. As is apparent from the precedingdiscussion, the image capture device 126 b may be any type of, forexample, camera, digital camera, web camera (webcam) or video camera,where any of these and others may be disposed within or in associationwith one or more other devices, such as, for example, a cell phone orpersonal digital assistant (PDA).

At the operation 708, the media asset may be received at a print device.For example, the media asset 102 may be received at the print device 126a of FIG. 2A, such as when the media asset is downloaded thereto by wayof an external computer, and/or by way of a memory card inserted into(or otherwise connected to) the print device 126 a. In this way, forexample, the print device 126 a, as with the camera 126 b, may beprevented from producing and/or capturing the restricted image 108.

At the operation 710, the media asset is received at a centralcollection facility for collecting media assets. For example, asreferenced above, the processing service 208 of FIG. 2C may serve as aclearinghouse for a number of users, who may be employees of a singleemployer. In another example, the processing service 208 may be acommercial enterprise that received media assets from any number ofdisparate consumers.

FIG. 8 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 8 illustrates example embodiments where themodifying operation 320 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 802, operation 804,operation 806, operation 808, and/or operation 810.

At the operation 802, the restricted image is replaced with the modifiedimage selected from a database of replacement images that are known toinclude the at least one shared attribute. For example, the modifiedimage 110 may be selected from the replacement images memory 118 tooverlay the restricted image 108, with appropriate scaling, warping,rotating, color-matching, or any other operation required by themodification logic 114 to insert the replacement image 110.

At the operation 804, the restricted image may be modified withoutmodifying the at least one shared image attribute. For example, andsomewhat contrary to the example just given, the restricted image may bealtered without a full replacement of the image 108. For example, if thereplacement image 108 includes a public figure having brown hair, acertain style of dress, or some other distinguishing characteristic,then such a characteristic may be maintained within the modified image110. Thus, a person or other object in the restricted image 108 may beanonymized, with a minimum disruption to the media asset 102 as a whole.

At the operation 806, a presentation context of the media asset ismaintained within the modified media asset. For example, not only maythe concurrent image(s) 120 be maintained within the modified mediaasset 110, but the modified image 110 itself may be inserted withminimal or no disruption to a continuity of color, lighting, shading,clarity, or other aspects of presentation of the modified media asset.

At the operation 808, the modified image is determined to be associatedwith modified identity information that is different from identityinformation associated with the restricted image. For example, asreferred to above, it may be the case that the processing system 104 isoperable to anonymize a figure or object, e.g., a person, within therestricted image 108. In this way, privacy or security concerns of theanonymized figure, or of any other entity (e.g., the operator or managerof a venue), may be addressed. By ensuring that the identity information(e.g., name, facial features, occupation, or any other identityinformation) associated with the modified image 110 is different fromidentity information associated with the restricted image 108, at leastone aspect of the anonymization of the figure is provided.

At the operation 810, an identity of a human subject of the restrictedimage is obscured by replacing the human subject with a replacementhuman subject having a different identity. For example, and similarly tosome of the examples already given, a human subject in the restrictedimage 108 of FIG. 1 may be replaced, perhaps using an image from thereplacement images database 118, where the modification logic 114 isoperable to determine the identity of the human subject, perhaps inconjunction with the image restriction criteria 116 and/or therecognition logic 112.

FIG. 9 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 9 illustrates example embodiments where themodifying operation 320 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 902, operation 904,operation 906, and/or operation 908.

At the operation 902, the restricted image is modified to obtain themodified image that includes, as the at least one shared imageattribute, one or more image attributes from a group including a shape,a size, a contour, an outline, a color, a pattern, an anatomy, a figure,a frame, a form, a glyph, a symbol, a word, a feature, a facial feature,a gender, or a race. For example, the recognition logic 112 may accessthe image restriction criteria 116 to determine one or more of thesecriteria, or other criteria, to determine the restricted image 108, asreferenced above, and then the modification logic 114 may, perhaps inassociation with the replacement images 118, determine the modifiedimage 110 in which at least one of the above attributes shared betweenthe modified image 110 and the restricted image 108.

At the operation 904, the restricted image is modified to includeclothing or other covering when the restricted image is determined toinclude indecent or obscene material. For example, if the media asset102 includes a website that includes a restricted image 108 thatincludes nudity, then the recognition logic may so recognize, and themodification logic 114 may add clothing or other covering to therestricted image 108. In this way, a general appearance of the websitemay be maintained.

At the operation 906, the restricted image may be modified based onpreference information. For example, a number of types of preferenceinformation are described above, including preferences of the user whocaptured or created the media asset 102, or preferences of a humansubject of the media asset 102, or preferences of a user who is incharge of producing, storing, transmitting, or delivering the mediaasset 102. Although such preference information was described above interms of determining the restricted image 108, the operation 906 andexamples provided herein also illustrate that such preferences, andother preferences, also may be used to determine a type or extent ofmodification that is performed by, for example, the modification logic114.

At the operation 908, it is determined whether payment has been receivedfor the modifying of the restricted image. For example, the user 122 mayaccess the processing service 208 as part of a paid service in which theuser 122 obtains modification of the media asset 102 in exchange forpayment.

In this context, payment may refer generally to any type of monetarycompensation, and/or non-monetary compensation, and/or economic valueexchange. Such payment may, for example, occur between any pair ofentities and/or other group of entities. By way of example and notlimitation, a payment may include a non-monetary payment, such as acredit or coupon that may be exchanged for goods or services, a reducedor eliminated cost to a user or users for related or non-related goodsor services. In another example, a payment may include granting a partycertain rights or permissions as payment, such as information-relatedpermissions. This may involve granting a party rights to certaininformation the party ordinarily would not have the right to access, orthe right to use certain information in a particular manner. Forexample, one type of payment may include a party allowing another partyto keep a user's personal information in a database for marketing orresearch purposes. In another example, as compensation or payment, auser or users may grant another party the right to monitor computerusage, or preferences or buying habits of the user in certain contexts,or the right to monitor a physical location or activity of the user. Theuser also may accept cash or cash-equivalents as payment from theprovider for providing such entitlements, rights, or permissions. Thus,by providing and/or receiving monetary or non-monetary value, in anamount that may be designated as part of an agreement between therelevant parties, the parties may gain advantages and benefits that aremutually acceptable to both.

FIG. 10 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 10 illustrates example embodiments where themodifying operation 320 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 1002, operation 1004,operation 1006, operation 1008, and/or operation 1010.

At the operation 1002, the restricted image is modified at an imagecapture device. For example, the restricted image 108 is modified at theprocessing system 104 within the camera 126 b of FIG. 2B. Further, atthe operation 1004, the restricted image is modified at a print device.For example, the restricted image 108 may be modified at the processingsystem 104 by the print device 126 a of FIG. 2A. Further, at theoperation 1006, the restricted image may be modified at a remoteprocessing service. For example, the restricted image 108 may bemodified at a processing system 104 of the processing service 208 ofFIG. 2C.

At the operation 1008, information regarding the restricted image may beencrypted. For example, the modification logic 114 may be operable toencrypt the media asset 102 and/or the restricted image 108, prior to,or in conjunction with, producing the modified media asset 110. Forexample, the encrypted restricted image 108 may be aggregated with themodified media asset for output, or the encrypted restricted image 108may be stored remotely from the modified media asset 110.

At the operation 1010, the restricted image is prevented from beingrendered. For example, the modification logic 114 may corruptinformation regarding the restricted image 108 such that the informationis not, or can not be, stored for later access. In this way, forexample, the anonymity of a person in the restricted image 108 may bemaintained in full confidence.

FIG. 11 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 11 illustrates example embodiments where theproducing operation 330 may include at least one additional operation.Additional operations may include operation 1102, operation 1104, and/oroperation 1106.

At the operation 1102, a presentation of a human face is maintainedwithin the modified image when the restricted image includes arestricted human face. For example, if the restricted image 108 includesa human face of a public figure or some other individual who hasrequested some level of anonymity, then that face may be replaced orotherwise modified, perhaps using the replacement images 118, by themodification logic 114.

At the operation 1104, the modified media asset is produced as a digitalmodified media asset. For example, the modification logic 114 may beoperable to output the modified media asset 110 as a digital mediaasset.

At the operation 1106, the modified media asset is output. For example,the modified media asset 110 may be output to the user 122, who, as isapparent from the above discussion, may represent someone who hascaptured the media asset, someone who is reviewing the media asset,someone who is receiving the media asset, or anyone else who may havecause to receive the media asset.

FIG. 12 illustrates a partial view of an exemplary computer programproduct 1200 that includes a computer program 1204 for executing acomputer process on a computing device. An embodiment of the exemplarycomputer program product 1200 is provided using a signal bearing medium1202, and may include at least one of one or more instructions fordetermining a restricted image within a media asset, one or moreinstructions for modifying the restricted image to obtain a modifiedimage that includes at least one shared image attribute of therestricted image, and one or more instructions for producing a modifiedmedia asset that includes the modified image. The one or moreinstructions may be, for example, computer executable and/orlogic-implemented instructions. In one implementation, thesignal-bearing medium 1202 may include a computer-readable medium 1206.In one implementation, the signal-bearing medium 1202 may include arecordable medium 1208. In one implementation, the signal-bearing medium1202 may include a communications medium 1210.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary system 1300 in which embodiments may beimplemented. The system 1300 includes a computing system environment.The system 1300 also illustrates the user 122 using a user device 1304,which is optionally shown as being in communication with a computingdevice 1302 by way of an optional coupling 1306. The optional coupling1306 may represent a local, wide-area, or peer-to-peer network, or mayrepresent a bus that is internal to a computing device (e.g., in exampleembodiments in which the computing device is contained in whole or inpart within the user device 1304. A storage medium 1308 may be anycomputer storage media.

The computing device 1302 includes an operability to receive the mediaasset 102. The computing device 1302 also includes computer executableinstructions 1310 that when executed on the computing device 1302 causesthe computing device 1302 to determine a restricted image within a mediaasset, modify the restricted image to obtain a modified image thatincludes at least one shared image attribute of the restricted image,and produce a modified media asset that includes the modified image.

As referenced above and as shown in FIG. 13, in some examples, thecomputing device 1302 may optionally be contained in whole or in partwithin the user device 1304, and may include the image-capture device(camera) 126 b or the printer 126 a. For example, the user device 1304may include a cell phone, and the computing device 1302 may be includedas part of a digital camera included within the cell phone. In anotherexample embodiment, the computing device 1302 is operable to communicatewith the user device 1304 associated with the user 122 to receive themedia asset 102 from the user 122 and to provide the modified mediaasset 106 to the user 122.

FIG. 14 illustrates an operational flow 1400 representing exampleoperations by which the user 122 obtains the modified media asset 106that includes the modified image 110. At operation 1410, a user providesa media asset to a processing system for recognition of a restrictedimage contained therein. For example, the user 122 may provide the mediaasset 102 to the processing system 104 for recognition of the restrictedimage 108 by the recognition logic 112. At operation 1420, a modifiedmedia asset is received in which the restricted image has been modifiedto include a modified image. For example, the modified media asset 106may be received in which the restricted image 108 has been modified toinclude the modified image 110.

The operation 1410 may include one or more additional operations. Forexample, the operation 1410 may include an operation 1402 in whichrecognition parameters by which the restricted image may be recognizedare specified by way of a user interface. For example, the user 122 mayset parameters of the recognition logic 112.

Also, the operation 1410 may include an operation 1404, in whichmodification parameters by which the restricted image may be modifiedare specified by way of a user interface. For example, the user 122 mayspecify parameters of the modification logic 114, by way of the userinterface 124.

The operation 1420 may include one or more operations. For example, theoperation 1420 may include an operation 1406, in which the modifiedmedia asset is received from one or more of an image capture device, aprint device, or a remote processing service. For example, the user 122may receive the modified media asset 106 by way of the print device 126a, the camera 126 b, or the remote processing system 208.

Of course, the user 122 may receive the modified media asset 106 inother ways. For example, the modified media asset 106 may be received asstored on a memory device. For example, the user may capture an audioand/or visual file using an image capture device or by way ofdownloading from a website or other location. The user may store theresulting digital file on a memory card, memory stick, CD, DVD, or otherstorage media.

FIG. 15 illustrates an operational flow 1500 representing exampleoperations that produce the modified media asset 106. After a startoperation, the operational flow 1500 moves to a determining operation1502 where an image is determined. For example, the image 108 may bedetermined to exist within the media asset 102. At the operation 1504,the image is modified to obtain an anonymized image. For example, asdescribed in various contexts above, one image may be altered or changedsuch that a subject of the image is protected from inclusion therein,yet without alerting a user in a normal or anticipated use of the imagefrom noticing the protection.

The operational flow 1500 may include additional operations. Forexample, the operational flow 1500 may include operations 1506, 1508,1510, 1512, 1514, 1516, 1518, 1520, and 1522.

At the operations 1506 and 1508, respectively, and as an alternativeembodiment of the determining operation 1502, an attribute of the imageis determined, and the attribute is evaluated against image-restrictioncriteria. For example, the recognition logic 112 may determine anattribute(s) of the media asset 102, or of the image 108 itself,including any of the numerous attributes discussed herein, or others notspecifically discussed. Then, the recognition logic 112 may evaluate theattribute against the image restriction criteria 116.

At the operation 1510, an attribute of an identity of a subject of theimage is determined. For example, a subject of the image 108 may be apublic figure, or someone else who has specified (or about whom it hasbeen specified) that any or certain images of him or herself should beanonymized. The recognition logic 112 may thus determine an attribute ofan identity of this person, including those mentioned herein such asname, occupation, physical trait, or others.

The modifying operation 1504 may include alternative embodiments, aswell. For example, at the operation 1512, a presentation context of theimage in the anonymized image is preserved. For example, the modifiedimage 110 may be presented with a same or similar clarity, resolution,contrast, color, or balance as the image 108 (as opposed to, e.g.,simply blocking out or blurring the image 108), and/or the concurrentimage(s) 120 may be maintained.

At the operation 1514, the image may be replaced with a non-specificimage to obtain the anonymized image. For example, a non-specific image,e.g., an image that is not specific to the media asset 102, and/or to asubject of the image 108, may be selected from the replacement images118.

At the operation 1516, the image may be replaced with amodified-identity image to obtain the anonymized image. For example, themodified image 110 may be associated with a subject having an identitydifferent from that of an identity of the image 108.

At the operation 1518, an identity associated with a subject of theimage may be obscured to obtain the anonymized image. For example, anidentity of the subject of the image 108 may be obscured, as opposed tothe image 108 itself being obscured in the sense of being blocked out,covered, or blurred.

At the operation 1520, at least one shared attribute of the image may bemaintained within the anonymized image. Also, at the operation 1522, atleast one or more of a shape, a size, a contour, an outline, a color, apattern, an anatomy, a figure, a frame, a form, a glyph, a symbol, aword, a feature, a facial feature, a gender, or a race of the image maybe maintained within the anonymized image. For example, any of the aboveattributes, or combinations thereof, or other attributes, may bemaintained within the anonymized image 110 with respect to the image108.

FIG. 16 illustrates a partial view of an exemplary computer programproduct 1600 that includes a computer program 1604 for executing acomputer process on a computing device. An embodiment of the exemplarycomputer program product 1600 is provided using a signal bearing medium1602, and may include at least one of one or more instructions fordetermining an image, and one or more instructions for modifying theimage to obtain an anonymized image. The one or more instructions maybe, for example, computer executable and/or logic-implementedinstructions. In one implementation, the signal-bearing medium 1602 mayinclude a computer-readable medium 1606. In one implementation, thesignal-bearing medium 1602 may include a recordable medium 1608. In oneimplementation, the signal-bearing medium 1602 may include acommunications medium 1610.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; theuse of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that incertain contexts the choice between hardware and software can becomesignificant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologiesdescribed herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/orfirmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context inwhich the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardwareand/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet againalternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles bywhich the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies describedherein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to theother in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon thecontext in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns(e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any ofwhich may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that opticalaspects of implementations will typically employ optically-orientedhardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from this subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of this subject matter describedherein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solelydefined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those withinthe art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in theappended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generallyintended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will befurther understood by those within the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will beexplicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitationno such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, thefollowing appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations.However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply thatthe introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even whenthe same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “atleast one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or“an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one ormore”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used tointroduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled inthe art will recognize that such recitation should typically beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typicallymeans at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone,C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general sucha construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that any disjunctive word and/orphrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

The herein described aspects depict different components containedwithin, or connected with, different other components. It is to beunderstood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, andthat in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achievethe same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement ofcomponents to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated”such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any twocomponents herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can beseen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionalityis achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being“operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to each other to achievethe desired functionality. Any two components capable of being soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable” to eachother to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples ofoperably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateableand/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactableand/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interactableand/or logically interacting components.

While certain features of the described implementations have beenillustrated as disclosed herein, many modifications, substitutions,changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. Itis, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spiritof the embodiments of the invention.

1. A method comprising: determining a restricted image within a mediaasset; modifying the restricted image to obtain a modified image thatincludes at least one shared image attribute of the restricted image;and producing a modified media asset that includes the modified image.2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a restricted image within amedia asset comprises: determining identity information associated withthe restricted image.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining arestricted image within a media asset comprises: associating at least aportion of the media asset with a user capture device used to capturethe media asset.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining arestricted image within a media asset comprises: associating at least aportion of the media asset with a user known to have captured the mediaasset.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a restricted imagewithin a media asset comprises: associating at least a portion of themedia asset with a setting content of the restricted image.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein determining a restricted image within a mediaasset comprises: determining an attribute of a concurrently-imagedobject within the media asset.
 7. The method of claim 1 whereindetermining a restricted image within a media asset comprises:performing image recognition analysis on a portion of the media asset 8.The method of claim 7 wherein performing image recognition analysis onthe restricted image comprises: detecting indecent or obscene materialwithin the restricted image.
 9. The method of claim 1 whereindetermining a restricted image within a media asset comprises:performing facial recognition analysis on a portion of the media asset.10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a restricted image withina media asset comprises: analyzing metadata associated with therestricted image.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein analyzing metadataassociated with the restricted image comprises: analyzing aclosed-captioning stream that is associated with the media asset. 12.The method of claim 1 wherein determining a restricted image within amedia asset comprises: evaluating an attribute of the restricted imageagainst image-restriction criteria.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The method ofclaim 1 wherein determining a restricted image within a media assetcomprises: determining a user preference associated with the restrictedimage.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a restricted imagewithin a media asset comprises: determining a preference of a humansubject of the restricted image.
 16. The method of claim 1 whereindetermining a restricted image within a media asset comprises:determining a preference of a user who captured the media asset. 17.(canceled)
 18. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a restrictedimage within a media asset comprises: determining a restricted imagewithin a still picture.
 19. The method of claim 1 wherein determining arestricted image within a media asset comprises: determining arestricted image within a video stream.
 20. (canceled)
 21. (canceled)22. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a restricted image withina media asset comprises: receiving the media asset at a centralcollection facility for collecting media assets.
 23. The method of claim1 wherein modifying the restricted image to obtain a modified image thatincludes at least one shared image attribute of the restricted imagecomprises: replacing the restricted image with the modified imageselected from a database of replacement images that are known to includethe at least one shared image attribute.
 24. The method of claim 1wherein modifying the restricted image to obtain a modified image thatincludes at least one shared image attribute of the restricted imagecomprises: modifying the restricted image without modifying the at leastone shared image attribute.
 25. The method of claim 1 wherein modifyingthe restricted image to obtain a modified image that includes at leastone shared image attribute of the restricted image comprises:maintaining a presentation context of the media asset within themodified media asset.
 26. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying therestricted image to obtain a modified image that includes at least oneshared image attribute of the restricted image comprises: determiningthat the modified image is associated with modified identity informationthat is different from identity information associated with therestricted image.
 27. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying therestricted image to obtain a modified image that includes at least oneshared image attribute of the restricted image comprises: obscuring anidentity of a human subject of the restricted image by replacing thehuman subject with a replacement human subject having a differentidentity.
 28. (canceled)
 29. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying therestricted image to obtain a modified image that includes at least oneshared image attribute of the restricted image comprises: modifying therestricted image to include clothing or other covering when therestricted image is determined to include indecent or obscene material.30. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the restricted image toobtain a modified image that includes at least one shared imageattribute of the restricted image comprises: modifying the restrictedimage based on preference information.
 31. The method of claim 1 whereinmodifying the restricted image to obtain a modified image that includesat least one shared image attribute of the restricted image comprises:determining that payment has been received for the modifying of therestricted image.
 32. (canceled)
 33. (canceled)
 34. (canceled) 35.(canceled)
 36. (canceled)
 37. The method of claim 1 wherein producing amodified media asset that includes the modified image comprises:maintaining a presentation of a human face within the modified imagewhen the restricted image includes a restricted human face. 38.(canceled)
 39. (canceled)
 40. A computer program product comprising: asignal-bearing medium bearing at least one of one or more instructionsfor determining a restricted image within a media asset, one or moreinstructions for modifying the restricted image to obtain a modifiedimage that includes at least one shared image attribute of therestricted image, and one or more instructions for producing a modifiedmedia asset that includes the modified image.
 41. (canceled) 42.(canceled)
 43. (canceled)
 44. A system comprising: a computing device;and instructions that when executed on the computing device cause thecomputing device to determine a restricted image within a media asset,modify the restricted image to obtain a modified image that includes atleast one shared image attribute of the restricted image, and produce amodified media asset that includes the modified image.
 45. (canceled)46. The system of claim 44 wherein the computing device comprises: aprint device.
 47. (canceled)
 48. A device comprising: a processingsystem, the processing system comprising recognition logic that isoperable to determine a restricted image within a media asset, andmodification logic that is operable to modify the restricted image toobtain a modified image that includes at least one shared imageattribute of the restricted image.
 49. (canceled)
 50. (canceled) 51.(canceled)
 52. (canceled)
 53. (canceled)
 54. A method comprising:providing a media asset to a processing system for recognition of arestricted image contained therein; and receiving a modified media assetin which the restricted image has been modified to include a modifiedimage.
 55. (canceled)
 56. (canceled)
 57. (canceled)
 58. A methodcomprising: determining an image; and modifying the image to obtain ananonymized image.
 59. The method of claim 58 wherein determining animage comprises: determining an attribute of the image; and evaluatingthe attribute against image-restriction criteria.
 60. (canceled) 61.(canceled)
 62. The method of claim 58 wherein modifying the image toobtain an anonymized image comprises: replacing the image with anon-specific image to obtain the anonymized image.
 63. The method ofclaim 58 wherein modifying the image to obtain an anonymized imagecomprises: replacing the image with a modified-identity image to obtainthe anonymized image.
 64. The method of claim 58 wherein modifying theimage to obtain an anonymized image comprises: obscuring an identityassociated with a subject of the image to obtain the anonymized image.65. The method of claim 58 wherein modifying the image to obtain ananonymized image comprises: maintaining at least one shared attribute ofthe image within the anonymized image.
 66. The method of claim 58wherein modifying the image to obtain an anonymized image comprises:maintaining at least one or more of a shape, a size, a contour, anoutline, a color, a pattern, an anatomy, a figure, a frame, a form, aglyph, a symbol, a word, a feature, a facial feature, a gender, or arace of the image within the anonymized image.
 67. A computer programproduct comprising: a signal-bearing medium bearing at least one of oneor more instructions for determining an image, and one or moreinstructions for modifying the image to obtain an anonymized image. 68.(canceled)
 69. (canceled)
 70. (canceled)